The National Forest Service is half way through its land use revision process and has scheduled a series of meetings to get public feedback. Last year we were asked to comment on special use areas by marking colored dots on forest service maps. This time, those who show up at the meetings Click Here For Dates and Times will be asked to vote on one of six use plans that resulted from feedback from the previous session.
WHY MOUNTAIN BIKERS NEED TO ATTEND
Groups like the Sierra Club had early access to the revision process and successfully penciled in vast areas of Designated Wilderness areas where bicycle uses is prohibited for eternity. Mountain bikers need to show up en masse and vote for the plans that have the least amount of designated Wilderness.
WHY? Because Wilderness areas are forever--each site that is proposed to be converted into this ultra-restrictive designation must be studied and approved independently--and with much more public scrutiny than a rash of meetings Click Here For Dates and Times that cover a million acres in four counties.
DON'T SELL MOUNTAIN BIKERS SHORT
Presently, the Wilderness Act is being used as a tool to permanently protect public land from future development. Once designated, Wilderness areas, are restricted to the most primitive use--and emotionally based language that, for instance, bans baby joggers, but allows outfitters to operate whitewater rafting concessions. Extreme Kayakers can rip through the rivers, but unpowered mountain bikers and hang gliders are banned because they are "mechanized" last I checked, Hang gliders didn't have oars. If whitewater Kayaks were made of birch bark and ash, the technology argument might hold water. You can't land an airplane in a wilderness area--even in an emergency--without severe penalties. Wilderness Areas serve an important function, but not to lock out the general public from everyplace where there is wild and beautiful country.
Clearly, a new law must be written that serves to protect natural park lands and habitat forever, that is not dogmatically hostile to Joe-average, non-destructive users. The problem is, that pro wilderness groups will not seek nor approve of an alternate law until they lose a few important battles.
TAKE THE OFFENSE
Now is the time to cast every vote against the addition of one acre of Wilderness. Show up at the meetings. Mountain bikers have already lost access to more than half the single and doubletrack within State and Federal lands and if the Wilderness acquisition movement continues unchecked, we will lose half of our remaining half within five years. We need to get the pendulum swinging the opposite direction--away from the clutches of anti-recreation wilderness groups and back towards the center. To do this, we must staunchly oppose new wilderness areas at meetings and by mail.
Wilderness is a good thing, and our actions surely will not prevent areas that are truly worthy of this Congressional designation from being included now, or in the future. Powerful opposition, however, is needed at this time to take the Wilderness Act out of the hands of a misguided group of environmental zealots--and return the future fate of our natural treasures back to the general public.
SHOW UP, VOTE AGAINST RESTRICTIVE WILDERNESS DESIGNATION.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHERE AND WHEN
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